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How to check for flooding before driving on San Antonio-area roads

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How to check for flooding before driving on San Antonio-area roads


Driving in heavy rain can be hazardous, but understanding wet-weather road conditions is key to staying safe. Being careful during San Antonio’s storms means knowing how to check local road closures and having a plan to avoid flood-prone areas.

The need is especially acute in Central Texas and the Hill Country, which are experiencing an ongoing drought. According to the flood barrier company Flood Risk America, dry soil is hydrophobic, causing water to overflow quickly.

The good news is that checking driving conditions is easier than ever, thanks to online tools. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) frequently tweets weather updates and closures and maintains a real-time map showing travel dangers at DriveTexas.org.

Users can use toggles to filter out various driving headaches, including scheduled closures, road damage, construction, and flooding. The information is updated 24 hours a day in five-minute intervals.

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Drivers should be warned, however, that the map only covers roadways maintained by the TxDOT system. While this does include rural Farm- and Ranch-to-Market routes, it does not include roads maintained by counties or municipalities.

The City of San Antonio maintains its own list of closures through the Public Works Department, and Bexar County conditions are posted on its own website.

Even with online information, driving safety can deteriorate quickly, especially during flash flooding. TxDOT reminds Texas motorists that water accumulations can appear to be more shallow than they actually are. It’s always best to “turn around, don’t drown.”

According to the agency, drivers can lose control of their vehicle — even if it is a truck or SUV — in as little as six inches of rapidly moving water. TxDOT recommends that drivers adhere to the following laws and guidelines:

  • Never walk, swim, or drive through still or moving flood waters, which can hide dangers such as debris or downed power lines.
  • Be especially mindful when driving at night when visibility is decreased.
  • If you can do so safely, leave your vehicle if it stalls in deep water and head to higher ground.
  • Driving around barriers blocking flooded roadways is illegal, subject to 180 days in jail and/ or a $2,000 fine.
  • Tampering with signs is punishable with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to two years in jail.



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Austin, TX

Austin opens cold weather shelters ahead of freezing temps

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Austin opens cold weather shelters ahead of freezing temps


As the Austin area prepares to plunge into freezing temperatures Sunday night, the city is initiating its Cold Weather Shelters protocol.

Those wanting to use the emergency shelters, which open when overnight temperatures reach 35 degrees or lower, must register between 6-8 p.m. at One Texas Center (OTC) on Barton Springs Road, according to a release from the city. Those interested and in need of transport can reach the OTC via bus lines 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105 and 801. Anyone who can’t pay bus fare but needs shelter will still be allowed to ride, a Facebook post from the city said.

Following registration, CapMetro shuttles will take guests from the OTC to a cold weather shelter. The addresses for these shelters are kept confidential due to “safety, privacy and capacity concerns,” according to the Austin American-Statesman.

The Statesman also reported that shelters provide meals and allow leashed, friendly pets.

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All parks and libraries are meanwhile serving as warming centers during regular operating hours, except for Austin Public Library’s Old Quarry Branch and Willie Mae Kirk Branch.



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Austin, TX

Building cleared after non-credible bomb threat made in Downtown Austin

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Building cleared after non-credible bomb threat made in Downtown Austin


A Downtown Austin building was cleared after a bomb threat was made Saturday night.

Police say that the call came in at 9:38 p.m., after which officers arrived to the scene and cleared a nearby building at 311 E 6th St.

ALSO: H-E-B delights Austin airport travelers with surprise gift vending machine pop-up

The threat was found to not be credible, and no one was injured.

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Police say no one is in custody and they will be clearing the scene shortly.



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Austin, TX

The richest small town in Texas tops our most popular Austin stories

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The richest small town in Texas tops our most popular Austin stories


Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson held a press conference Friday to discuss a new deal with Southwest Airlines and its expected impact on the city.

The deal, approved Thursday by the Austin City Council, awards Southwest $2,750 for each new Austin-based hire over the next five years. In exchange, the airline plans to add 2,000 high-paying jobs with an average salary of $180,000 and invest in local workforce initiatives, including the city’s new Austin Infrastructure Academy.

Officials say the deal will strengthen Southwest’s presence at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where the carrier already handles more than 40 percent of all passenger traffic.

The partnership is expected to bring in nearly $20 million in local tax revenue, and the incentive program will last for five years and pay Southwest up to $5.5 million.

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Mayor Watson said the agreement will not only create new jobs in Austin but will improve the overall experience at AUS.

“We’re building lives and careers at the same time we’re building tarmacs and terminals,” Watson said. “Southwest is choosing Austin because our people, our workforce, and our future make us a smart investment. This deal creates thousands of good-paying jobs, improves the passenger experience, and ensures the benefits flow directly to Austin workers, families, and tourists. This agreement is proof that Austin means business and cares about the success of its people.”

Read the full story at KVUE.com.



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